Monday September 10th Local Sports

IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Mekhi Sargent scored on a 2-yard TD run with 4:47 left and Iowa beat Iowa State 13-3 on Saturday for the fourth year in a row.

Miguel Recinos added a pair of field goals for the Hawkeyes (2-0). Iowa’s winning streak over the Cyclones (0-1) is the longest since the Hawkeyes took 15 straight from 1983-97.

The latest matchup between these two instate rivals was mostly a slog between what could be two of the better defenses in the country. But Iowa finally put together a decent drive when it mattered most by going 83 yards in 13 plays — highlighted by a 30-yard reception by Brandon Smith to set up Sargent’s touchdown.

“It’s a big momentum booster,” said Iowa’s Nate Stanley, who was 16 of 28 passing for the Hawkeyes. “I’m just extremely happy that we can come out here and win and get to keep that trophy for another year.”

Kyle Kempt threw for 126 yards for Iowa State before leaving with what coach Matt Campbell described as a “dinged” MCL in his left knee.

“I don’t think it’s season ending by any stretch of the imagination,” Campbell said.

Iowa State’s David Montgomery ran for just 44 yards on 17 carries.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kirk Cousins passed for two touchdowns in his much-anticipated Minnesota debut, and the Vikings forced four turnovers to fuel a 24-16 victory over San Francisco on Sunday to stick 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo with his first loss in eight games as an NFL starter.

Cousins connected with Stefon Diggs in the second quarter and Kyle Rudolph in the third quarter for scores, and the defense finished the job with three sacks and three second-half interceptions of Garoppolo. Mike Hughes turned one pick into a 28-yard touchdown return, the first by a rookie in a Vikings season opener.

Harrison Smith, who sacked Garoppolo on a third-down safety blitz and had an interception late in the fourth quarter, recovered a fumble by Alfred Morris at the 2-yard line after Linval Joseph stripped the ball just in front of the goal line in the late in the first half.

Garoppolo finished 15 for 33 for 261 yards and a touchdown pass to rookie Dante Pettis. With an injury depleted offensive line in front of him and the absence of top wide receiver Marquise Goodwin, Garoppolo was unable to capitalize on the opportunity for a comeback after the 49ers defense forced three straight three-and-out possessions by the Vikings to start the fourth quarter. DeForest Buckner had 2½ sacks for San Francisco.

Cousins went 20 for 36 for 244 yards, targeting Adam Thielen 12 times. He caught six passes for 102 yards.

Garoppolo won twice for New England in 2016 during Tom Brady’s suspension and guided the 49ers to five straight wins to finish last season after he arrived in a trade with the Patriots and they fell to 1-10, but his opening assignment for 2018 was bound to be his toughest test yet.

The Vikings used their star-stacked defense to finish 13-3 last year and reach the NFC championship game, leading the NFL in fewest yards and points allowed and third down conversions against. Minnesota’s U.S. Bank Stadium is one of the loudest places in the league for opponents to play.

Tight end George Kittle, who played his college ball at the University of Iowa, had five receptions for 90 yards, but the catch he didn’t make was the one that stood out. Wide open after beating Anthony Barr up the same, Kittle had what would’ve been a 30-yard completion fall off his fingers at midfield. The third-down interception by Hughes was on the next play.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Willians Astudillo hit a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning that gave the Minnesota Twins a 3-1 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday.

Max Kepler doubled off Jason Hammel (2-13) with two outs in the Twins ninth. Astudillo then hit a drive deep to left field for his third home run of the season.

Trevor Hildenberger (4-3) got two outs to pick up the win.

Adalberto Mondesi homered for the Royals, who were held to three hits on the day.

A day after Kansas City rookie Jorge Lopez took a perfect game into the ninth, the Twins ended the suspense early with a run in the second inning. Robbie Grossman led off with a double and scored on Ehire Adrianza’s single.

Royals starter Ian Kennedy made his first appearance after missing two months with a strained oblique. He ended up throwing 93 pitches over six innings, allowing one run on four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.

Minnesota starter Chase De Jong made his Twins debut with four scoreless innings, walking four and striking out five. He arrived from Seattle in a trade for reliever Zach Duke on July 30.

Zack Littell followed De Jong for the Twins and gave up Mondesi’s tying home run in the sixth but was otherwise sharp, allowing just two runners in 3 1/3 innings.